Index tab



Nov. 12, 1929. s. w. SCHAEFER INDEX TAB Original Filed Oct. '1 1925Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF cE' GEORGE W. SCEAEFEB,OF SOUTH BRAINTBEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T AD- DBESSOGBAPH COMPANY,01' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE INDEX TAB Originalapplication fled October 1, 1925, Serial No. 59,825. Divided and thilapplication fled Kay 8,

' 1928. Serial No. 276,054.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 59,825,filed October 1, 1925.

This invention relates to printing devices having a printing form andwhich are adapted to be stored in accordance with a card index s stem orin a stack and to be run through an addressing or other suitable machinefor taking impressions from the form. These printlng devices have beenmade in varlous forms, including a frame having a printing plate withembossed characters detachably mounted on the frame, and also includinga one-piece device with printing characters embossed thereon. Thesedevices have also been provided with index tabs suitably marked andadapted to be detachabli engaged with the device for indexing or cas'sifying the device. Some difiiculty has been experienced in makingthese tabs so that they can be readily engaged with and disengaged fromthe device by those not specially skilled in doing work of this kind,and sometimes the tabs become worn and are accidentally detached fromthe device while they are being run through the machine or in handling.

The object of this invention is to provide novel and simple means forsecurely holding a detachable tab on a printing device.

And a further object of the invention is to provide means for locking adetachable tab to a printing device in such a way that it may be readilydetached by manual manipulation when desired. The invention may beembodied with printing devices of many different kinds and for thepurposes of this application, I have shown it embodied in that type ofprinting device which comprises a frame and a detachable printing plate.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a printing device embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the printing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the printingdevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 60 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a dctached tab.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a frame, and 2 is a printing platedetachably secured on the frame by any suitable retaining means. Theframe may also be provided with a head 3, lips 4, and a stop 5 forretaining a card, but I have omitted the card from the drawings becauseit forms no part of my present invention and it would obscure certainfeatures of w my invention, if shown. 1

Provision is made for accommodating ata b 6 in a. plurality of differentpositions, or for. accommodating a. plurality of tabs on the frame, andthe means for securing the tab on i the frame are spaced apart acrossthe frame adjacent the top edge thereof. Each securing means comprises astud or button 7 located at the top edge of the frame, an opening 8below the stud, and a projection 9 below the opening. The stud may besubstan-. tially circular. in form, connected at its top at 10 and atits bottom at 11 to the body of the frame, and made by cutting the frameat 12 V and striking up the circular stud so that the head of the studwill be offset at the back of the frame, Figs. 4 and 5, and sideportions thereof will project free from the connec tions 10 and 11,Figs. 3 and 4.

The tab, Fig. 7, has a keyhole slot 13 therein 0 and a tooth 14projecting into an opening, 15

at its lower end. The circular part 13 of the keyhole slot is adapted toengage the head of the stud 7 and the elongated part 13" of the keyholeslot is adapted to engage the parts 10 5 and 11 which connect the headof. the stud to the body of the frame. The tooth 14 of the tab isadapted to engage the project-ion 9, Fig. 3, and prevent upwarddetaching movement of the tab relative to the frame.

In practice, the lower end of the tab is inserted through the opening 8from the rear of the frame and the tab is uprighted to engage thecircular part 13' of the keyhole slot with the head of the stud 7; thenthe tab is moved downward until the elongated part 13" of the keyholeslot engages the head of the stud and the upper end of the slot comes torest against the part 10 which connects the head of the stud to the bodyof the frame.

The opening 15 at the lower end of the tab engages the projection 9 onthe frame and this projection is made in the form of a socket to receivethe tooth it on the tab. The projection 9 in the form of an over-hangingsocket, as shown in the drawings, is made by indenting the frame fromthe back and providing a relief opening 9 below the pro jection. Whenthe tab is engaged with the frame, as just described, the lower endportion thereof rides over the socket projection 9 which enters theopening 15 in the tab and then the lower end portion of the tab springsback into engagement with the front face of the frame. The tooth 14 isthen disposed in position to engage the socket projection 9 on anyupward movement of the tab and thus the tab is locked against accidentaldisplacement. That part 16 of the frame below the opening 8 is slightlyinclined rearward to receive the lower end ofthe tab which is bent atslight tension, but sufficient to hold it in engagement with theprojection 9. To detach the tab from the frame a sharp instrument shouldbe introduced beneath the lower end of the tab to pry it away from theframe sufficiently to clear the projection 9, after which the tab can bepulled up until the circular part 13' registers with the head of thestud which will permit detachment of the tab from the frame.

The invention is simple in construction and it provides for securelyholding the tab on the frame against accidental detachment while, at thesame time. it permits the tab to be readily engaged with, or detachedfrom the frame whenever desired.

My invention may be applied to one-piece printing devices, and to otherforms of combination frames and printing plates, and to printing devicesof many different varieties, and I reserve the right to make all suchchanges in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as may benecessary or desirable to adapt the invention for different printingdevices and for other purposes, within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A tab having a keyhole slot therein for detachable engagement with aprinting device.

2. A tab having a keyhole slot therein and a tooth for detachableengagement with a printing device.

3. A tab having a keyhole slotand an opening therein, and a toothprojecting into the openingfor detachable engagement with a printingdevice.

4. A printing device frame-having means for detachable engagement of atab and comprising a stud having free side portions.

5. A printing device frame having means for detachable engagementof atab and comprising a'headed stud for engagement with ,reaaie a keyholeslot and a projection stamped up from the frame.

6. A- printing device frame having means for detachable engagement of atab and comprising a stud having free side portions, an opening, and aprojection all arranged in alignment.

7. The combination of a printing device frame having a stud on one face,a projection on its other face, and an opening between said stud andprojection, and a tab adapted to project through said opening and havinga slot to engage said stud and a recess to engage said projection.

8. The combination of a printing device frame having an opening therein,a stud on its back face above the opening, and a projection on its frontface below the opening, and a tab adapted to project through saidopening and having a keyhole slot to engage said stud and an opening toreceivesaid projection.

9. The combination of a printing device frame having an opening therein,a stud on its back face above the opening, and a projection on its frontface below the opening, and a tab adapted to project through saidopening and having a keyhole slot to engage said stud, an opening, andatooth in said opening adapted to engage said projection and preventaccidental displacement of the tab from the frame.

10. The combination of a printing device frame having a stud and a proection stamped up therefrom, said stud being connected with the frame atits top and bottom and being free from the frame at its side portions,and a tab having a keyhole slot to engage said stud, an opening toreceive said projection and a tooth in said opening adapted to engagesaid projection and prevent accidental displacement of the tab from theframe.

11. The combination of a printing device frame having a stud stamped uptherefrom said stud being connected with the frame at its top and bottomand being free from the frame at its side portions, a tab having akeyhole slot to engage said stud. and means on the frame and tab forholding the tab in locking engagement with the stud.

12. The combination of a printing device frame having a projectionthereon, a tab having an opening to receive said projection, means onthe frame and tab holding the tab on the frame, and a tooth in saidopening arranged to engage said projection upon rela tive movement-ofthe tab and frame to prevent accidental disengagement of the tab fromthe frame.

GEORGE W. SCI-IAEFER,

